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Daily Business Report — Jan. 18, 2011

Bob Kevane Heads San Diego Association of Realtors

Bob Kevane, founder and owner of The Kevane Co. and a 40-year veteran of the real estate industry, has been installed as the 2011 president of the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR). Kevane was elected by the membership of the 12,000-member organization. As president, Kevane will chair the executive committee and the board of directors and act as the official voting delegate to the National Association of Realtors. Kevane is a long-time SDAR volunteer and served as treasurer in 2003, 2004 and 2009. He has chaired many of the association’s committees, including budget and finance, government affairs and real estate trustees. He was SDAR’s representative on the city of San Diego’s Housing Affordability Task Force. Kevane is a director with the National Association of Realtors and a director for the California Association of Realtors, where he has served on the local government relations, property management and legislative committees, and was the chair of the taxation committee in 2006. In 2010 he represented landlords as the president of the San Diego County Apartment Association.

Bob Young Joins Leap Wireless International

Bob Young has joined Leap Wireless International Inc. as its executive vice president for field operations. Reporting to Young will be three regional presidents with oversight and responsibility for their territories. Young has more than 35 years of managerial and operational experience, including extensive experience in the telecommunications field. He served in senior executive roles for eight years at MetroPCS Communications Inc., where he oversaw the expansion of the company’s network and its launch of service in many of its markets. Prior to joining MetroPCS, Young had senior management roles with Verizon Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and US West.

Leslie Cross to Retire From DJO Inc.

Leslie H. Cross has announced his impending retirement as president and chief executive officer of DJO Inc., a manufacturer of medical devices. Cross has been designated as non-executive chairman of the board of directors until June 30. “Over the past 20-plus years, I have worked with many talented people who have contributed to DJO’s success and growth, and the company is well-positioned to continue that growth,” said Cross. “As we enter 2011, DJO is in strong condition, has good momentum in its markets and many exciting opportunities before it. I feel very comfortable that now is the right time to move into a role that will permit me to spend more time with my family.”

Fuel Cells Completed at Cox Communications

Cox Communications says it has completed construction of two next-generation fuel cells that will generate enough onsite power to reduce the company’s dependence on the local power grid. Two separate 400-kilowatt installations were done at the firm’s headquarters at Federal Boulevard and Euclid Avenue in San Diego. One fuel cell will provide 100 percent of the electrical load for one building, and the second fuel cell will provide nearly 60 percent of the electrical requirement for the main building, company officials said. Cox is using PureCell Model 400 fuel cells from UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. company. By building these fuel cells, officials said, Cox Communications will generate enough onsite power equivalent to planting 618 acres of trees, powering 602 homes annually, and saving nearly 1 million gallons of water a year.

Reno Contracting Recycles 60,000 Tons of Waste

Reno Contracting says it has recycled more than 60,000 tons of waste from construction projects since the beginning of 2009, accounting for an average 72 percent of construction debris diverted from landfills. The total is the equivalent of three football fields, each 100 feet deep. Last year, Reno launched a new business group, Reno ESP (Efficient Sustainable Practices), to help commercial building owners enhance the energy and environmental efficiencies of new and existing buildings and structures while driving down operating costs. Material typically recycled includes metals, cardboard, concrete, asphalt, wood and landscaping debris. “When it comes to conservation and energy efficiency, we lead by example,” said Walt Fegley, president of the company.

Cymer Computer Clubhouse to Open at Mission Valley YMCA

Mission Valley YMCA will unveil the Cymer Computer Clubhouse on Jan. 27, an after-school facility for local youth that was established through the sponsorship of Cymer Inc. Part of the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network, the Cymer Computer Clubhouse will serve as an after-school outlet where youths can tap into their passions and develop skills in a learning environment out-fitted with high-tech tools for mixing and editing music, developing video projects, creating art and more. The clubhouse, first of its kind in San Diego, is part of Mission Valley YMCA’s newly completed 22,000-square-foot capital improvement project that will offer living studios and a multi-purpose community room for health fairs and senior programs. The Cymer Computer Clubhouse features professional quality equipment provided by Cymer including a total of 16 computers, including HP desktop and Apple iMac computers loaded with the latest video editing and music studio software, digital video equipment, and a small music recording studio The YMCA plans to unveil the new facility at 10 a.m. on Jan. 27 at 5505 Friars Road in San Diego. Festivities will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tour of the new clubhouse, and introductions by guest speakers, Mission Valley YMCA President and CEO Herdelin-Doherty, and Cymer President and Chief Operating Officer Ed Brown.

KMA Architecture & Engineering Gets Sunroad Project

KMA Architecture & Engineering, in partnership with Swinerton Builders, has been selected as architect to design and build the Class A Sunroad Centrum II office tower for Sunroad Enterprises. Construction is to begin late this year and completion is slated for 2012. The eight-story, 200,000-square-foot tower at 8600 Spectrum Center Blvd. is the second of a three-building phased complex. The first phase features the tallest office building in Kearny Mesa. The KMA team consists of Don Blair, principal in charge; Rich Guerena, project architect; B. Moon Hajjar, project manager; Jay Janda, project architect; Robb Walker, design coordinator; and Ilia Voronchihin, project architect. BPA is the design architect for the master plan, as well as the individual buildings. The project manager for Swinerton Builders is Paul Vujica, chief estimator is Bob Wilson and the District Manager is Don Adair. Other services are provided by Hope Engineering; Michael Wall Engineering;McParlane Engineers; KTU&A; Stevens Cresto Engineering; BPA Architects; and Orness Design Group.

Small Business Workshops

SCORE San Diego has scheduled January workshops to help small business owners and those interested in starting a small business. Fees range from $29 to $109. For more information, call (619) 557-7272. To register for a workshop online, visit scoresandiego.org.

• Jan. 27 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Jan. 28 – Marketing and Contracting with State and Local Governments – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

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Voice Your Opinion

We Want Your Opinions on San Diego’s Big Issues
In the coming months, Probosky Research (one of California’s leading opinion research firms) will continue its partnership with SD METRO to survey San Diego residents about topics of interest to our readers. We’d like to throw open the door for suggestions for topics. What do you want to know? What do you think you know, but aren’t sure? What are you certain you know, but want to prove it beyond doubt? Ideally, we’d like to see questions that have to do with public policy.
Some areas may include Mayor Filner’s first 100 days job performance, should the city be responsible for economic growth and the creation of new jobs, how important are infrastructure improvements to our daily lives (streets and bridges, etc.), how important is water independence, how satisfied are residents with public transit or how do city residents value Balboa Park and other open spaces? Do you believe the City Council should revive the Plaza de Panama plan for Balboa Park?
You can email Probolsky Research directly with your ideas: info@probolskyresearch.com